Explaining Your Transcript

Imagine for a moment with us: After much anticipation, you receive your transcript from our office. Excitedly, you begin to review it, but in the process, you find yourself saying, "What does that funny-looking symbol mean?" or "An 'NR' grade...what's that?"

We here in the Office of the Registrar understand that reading your transcript can be a bit confusing. Therefore, we have put together the following information to help you better understand your transcript. We hope that you find this information to be both helpful and informative, and as always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience, and we will be glad to assist you!

Accreditation

The University of Northern Iowa is fully accredited by the Commission of Institutions of Higher Education of the Northern Central Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information about North Central Association accreditation, please contact the NCA at (312) 263-0456 or review their website

Marking Systems

Since Fall 1929, grades and grade points have been awarded as follows: Added (A); Discontinued (D); and Special (X) dates are noted.

Grade

Grade Points

Grade

Grade Points

A

4.00

C

2.00

A-

3.67

C-

1.67

B+

3.33

D+

1.33

B

3.00

D

1.00

B-

2.67

D-

.67

C+

2.33

F

0.00

Notation

Description

Notation

Description

CR

Credit

U

Unfinished

I

Incomplete

X

Credit by Exam

NC

No Credit

W

Withdrawn

NR

Grade Not Reported or Lab Grade Not Required

WF

Withdrew Failing

P

Pass or Proficiency

WP

Withdrew Passing

RC

Research/Course Continued

Special Systems

Symbol

Description

Symbol

Description

R

Repeated Course

&

Graduate Credit While Senior

*

Corrected Grade

%

Regression

#

Course Repeater/Substitute

>

Duplication

<

Ungraded Option Only

=

Restricted Credit

@

Audit Enrollment

H

Honors Course

NOTE. More than one special symbol may be used for an individual course. Any special symbol listed adjacent to a blank course title line belongs to the course immediately preceding.

Converted Records

The University converted to a machine record with the Fall semester 1983. A student enrolled both before and after Spring 1982 will have two records. One record will be black on purple produced by xerography. The other will be black on purple produced by computer. An * next to the individual's student number indicates that a second record exists.

During the 1994 Spring semester, we converted from a two digit numeric to a three digit numeric/alpha department number designation. All course records back to 1983 were converted to the three digit system.

Credit

Credit shown on transcripts of records may be in either or both quarter and semester hours. Credit earned prior to summer 1957 is always in quarter hours. Credit earned beginning summer 1957 is in semester hours.

Course Numbers

From 1876-1957, various course numbering systems were used during this time period. For specific information, please contact our office.

Fall 2011 to Present:

Courses are designated by an alpha subject field (up to eight characters) and 4-digit course number. The alpha subject field refers to the department or area of the course; the number refers to the specific course (e.g., For a course designated as ART 3011, "ART" refers to the Department of Art, and the "3011" refers to the course).

Course Numbers

Description

0000-0999

Non-credit courses, and courses that are offered to non-matriculated students (e.g., students in CIEP).

1000-1999

Introductory, elementary, and general education courses that are appropriate for first-year students and others with no special background. A course in this series will have few, if any, prerequisites.

2000-2999

Lower-level undergraduate courses; those that, ideally, are taken by second, and perhaps, third year students. These courses might build on materials and knowledge from the 1000 series courses and may have prerequisites.

3000-3999

Upper-level undergraduate courses, courses for majors, courses which require significant prerequisites. (NOTE. This is comparable to the aforementioned numbering of 100-level junior level courses or 100g-level junior level courses that can be taken for graduate credit. Courses which were 100g-level courses will also shadow with a 5000-series course number, which will be used specifically for graduate student registration in the course).

4000-4999

Advanced upper-level undergraduate courses including seminars, advanced independent student courses, honors thesis work, etc. (NOTE. This is comparable to the aforementioned numbering of 100g-level courses that can be taken for graduate credit. Courses which were 100g-level courses will also shadow with a 5000-series course number, which will be used specifically for graduate student registration in the course).

5000-5999

Introductory graduate, or first year graduate courses. (NOTE. These numbers are used only as shadow numbers for the aforementioned 100g-level courses numbers in 3000-3999 and 4000-4999 series specifically for graduate student registration in the course.

6000-6999

Upper-level graduate courses. (NOTE. These numbers are used only for courses that were aforementioned as 200-level courses).

7000-7999

Doctoral courses (NOTE. These numbers are used only for courses that were aforementioned as 300-level).

Graduate Transfer Credit

Graduate transfer credit is added to a student's record if the student is a degree candidate and if the credit is applicable to the degree being sought.